Daily Republican., 1887-08-05

to know 1t required the cruclfixion of
God to save him, and that nothing less
would save him; but 1t opened up a
series OF inferences that make the idea
more and more incomprehensible, and
more and more Inconsistent with a
will, purpose, wisdom and justice thor
oughly divine.
But when got to the New Dispen-
sation, with its sin forgiving business,
l acknowledgement to pieces''on chris.
tianity. The idea that, however wick
ed the sinner, he had the same chance
of salvation Through the blood of the
lamb" as the most God fearing-in
fact that the eleventh hour man was
entitled to the same heavenly compen-
sation as the one who had labored In
the Lords vineyard from the first hour
all this was absolutely preposterous.
1t was not just and God Is Justice.
And then the murderers, cut throats
and thieves whose very souls had be-
come thoroughly impregnated with
their lifelong crimes-these were they
to become "pure as newborn babes
all within few short hours of death
prsparation-while 1.-the good heather
(supposing the case), who had done
naught but good to my fellow heather,
who had spent most of my hard earn
ings regularly in feeding the hungry
and clothing the naked and succoring
the distressed, and had died of yellow
fever contracted from deserted fellow
being stricken with the disease whom
no Christian would nurse, was un-
mercifully consigned to hell's everlast
ing fire. simply because l had not
heard OF the glorious saving power of
the Lord Jesus, or because the con.
struction Of my mind would not permit
me to believe in the peculiar redeem
ing power of Christ! But then it was
gently insinuaied ooh, no! You
heather who have not heard of Christ
will not be punished quite SO severely
when you die as those "who heard the
gospel and believed it not"
The more l read the Bible the more
afraid was to become q christian. The
idea of coming into daily or hourly
contact with cold-blooded murde ers,
cut throats and other human scourges,
who had had but few moments of re-
pentance before roaming around hea.
ven, was abhorrent. And suppose to
this horde of shrewd, "civilized''
criminals should be added the fanatic
thugs Of India, the pirates of China,
the slavers, the cannibals, ct al. Well,
this was enough to shock and dismay
any mild, decent soul not schooled in
eccentric christianity.
1t is not only because l want to be
hoaest and to be sure of heaveni =
h,me, that choose to sign myself
"Your Heathen," but because l wan
to be as happy as can In order TO live
longer; and believe can live Longer
here by beiIg sincsre and practical ir
| my faith.
In the first place, my faith does moi
teach III o predestination, or tn at ~ life 4,
what the gods hath long foreord aimed
but 1t Ia what make 1t myself; anc
naturally muoh of this depends on tbs
wsy live. Unlike Christianity, t'our'
| Church Ia not eager for converts; bur
| like Free Masonry, we think our reli
gious doctrine strong or ouRh to attrac
tbs seekers after light and truth to offel
themselves without urging or prosely Il
ziug efforts. 1t pre-eminently teaohe
ms TO miod my own business, TO be con
tented with what have, TO possess
mind that Is tranquil and body q
ease at all times-in q word 1t say
"Whatsoever ye would not that other
should do unto you. DO Ye NOT even O.
unto them." We believe that IL we,s,
not able to do any body any good, VI
saould do nothing at all to harm them
This is better than the restless Chril
tian doctrine OF oeaseles. action. Idl,
ness ID no wrong when actions fail I
bring forth fruits of merit. L. Ia thet
fruitless trials Of one thing and anoth,
that produce so much trouble an
misery In Christian society.
We heathsn believe iu the happipel
cf common humanity, while Il
Cnristisn's only practical belief appsa
To be money. making golden calf wo
shippine); and there Is more money
be made by bsinR sin the swim" as
Christian than by being a heathe
Even o Christian preacher makes mo
money in one J ear than q heatht
banker in two. / do not blame the
for their money making, but for the
way Of making 1t
[CoNcLUsIoN TO MORROW